[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 20 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Page 945]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on House Commerce Committee Action on the ``Work Incentives 
Improvement Act''

May 19, 1999

    I commend the House Commerce Committee for its overwhelming 
bipartisan support for the ``Work Incentives Improvement Act'' today. By 
unanimously endorsing this legislation, the committee has taken an 
important step towards removing significant barriers to work for one of 
our Nation's most significant untapped resources--millions of people 
with disabilities. The committee's action, under the leadership of 
Chairman Bliley and Congressman Dingell, parallels the overwhelmingly 
bipartisan support that the Roth/Moynihan/Jeffords/Kennedy version of 
this legislation received from the Senate Finance Committee.
      
    Americans with disabilities can and do bring tremendous energy and 
talent to the American workforce, but the unemployment rate for all 
working-age adults with disabilities is nearly 75 percent. One of the 
most glaring problems is that people with disabilities frequently become 
ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare if they go back to work. This puts 
people with disabilities in the untenable position of choosing between 
health care coverage and work. The ``Work Incentives Improvement Act'' 
would improve job opportunities for people with disabilities by 
increasing access to health care and employment services.
      
    Justin Dart, one of the foremost leaders of the disability 
community, has said that the ``Work Incentives Improvement Act'' is 
``one of the boldest since the landmark passage of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act.'' As I indicated in my State of the Union Address, I 
could not agree more with him. I urge Speaker Hastert and Majority 
Leader Lott to move promptly to schedule votes on this important and 
long overdue legislation.